Why did we let Zinchenko go?

[Kippax77]

He has always loved the spotlight

I was trying to be kind to him

 

[waspish]

Why do you think left

 

[Chi-town blues]

He’s a smart boy. Collected all his medals , earned good money , trained under the best coach while playing for the best team .
And off he went for more minutes and hopefully more money.

 

[franksinatra]

Funny how players get better by their absence - he was a decent wall to pass off for the better players, he had no pace so could only play against the teams that didn't have a pacey right winger and it wasn't very often he'd beat a man and get a cross in.

That is all very true but he was a very tidy footballer and, with hindsight, his technical ability helped us to maintain control of the ball and starve the opposition of possession. But I have to admit I was not overly concerned when he left, but then I fully expected a first team ready replacement to be bought.

 

[Bay Area Blue 93]

He has always loved the spotlight

I love Zinch, but this was cringe-worthy :)

 

[r.soleofsalford]

Funny how players get better by their absence - he was a decent wall to pass off for the better players, he had no pace so could only play against the teams that didn't have a pacey right winger and it wasn't very often he'd beat a man and get a cross in.

Absolutely this.

 

[D'Silva]

Imagine thinking it was his role to “beat a man and get a cross in”. Zinchenko is a world class inverted full back. He has everything you want in that position.

I've always been a fan of the style of play Delph and Zinchenko brought at the position. Any LB that can replicate their style of play is a great one in my book. It's crazy seeing this type of LB play from the Centurion season not in City but in Arsenal. Even worst seeing post from Gooners saying Arteta was the one that invented this concept while at City WTF. The propagandists and low info posters who masquerade as experts will never admit they were wrong on Zinchenko.

 

[Gray]

We never played him in his best position, thought we had better players there?

 

[Chippy_boy]

Never rated him myself (still don't) and was happy to see him depart. I still am.

EDIT: Let's see how he deals with Kyle's pace this evening shall we.

 

[bennyboy]

We never played him in his best position, thought we had better players there?

I don't think Arsenal have played him in his best position as well.
It looks like Ukraine is the only time he plays in midfield.

 

[Saddleworth2]

I don't think Arsenal have played him in his best position as well.
It looks like Ukraine is the only time he plays in midfield.

He damn near plays midfield for Arsenal. Have a look at his touch map.

 

[bennyboy]

He damn near plays midfield for Arsenal. Have a look at his touch map.

Nah your okay.lol.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Nah your okay.lol.

ok. If you did, you would see he spends 80% of his time in midfield.
lol.

 

[bennyboy]

ok. If you did, you would see he spends 80% of his time in midfield.
lol.

No doubt the same at City even though he was a left back.

 

[BlueRhubarb]

He was a good player at City and he's still a good player at Arsenal. He wanted to go, wasn't particularly valued whilst with us and the general feeling was that he was a squad player filling in at left back until we finally buy a regular one. We got a good fee for him and we move on. Let it go lads!

 

[Tugay One Cup]

We weakened ourselves in a position we were already weak in and we directly strengthened an already improving team who are now where we want to be.

That's the bottom line.

How anyone can spin it as anything other than a fuck up is beyond me.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

We weakened ourselves in a position we were already weak in and we directly strengthened an already improving team who are now where we want to be.

That's the bottom line.

How anyone can spin it as anything other than a fuck up is beyond me.

It's not a fuck up.

Zincheko is a gifted footballer - who is playing his best football of his career now. But he wasn't in top choice first 11 and would not be. We have more talented players in our squad. We couldn't retain the entire squad *and* sign Haaland - we had to let some players go. I'm very much OK with having let Zinchenko and Jesus leave - and I'm very glad that their careers at Arsenal are going great.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

It's not a fuck up.

Zincheko is a gifted footballer - who is playing his best football of his career now. But he wasn't in top choice first 11 and would not be. We have more talented players in our squad. We couldn't retain the entire squad *and* sign Haaland - we had to let some players go. I'm very much OK with having let Zinchenko and Jesus leave - and I'm very glad that their careers at Arsenal are going great.

None of that addresses my two points:

1) We now have even less options in a position we were already struggling with.

2) We directly improved a team who are now outperforming us.

He didn't need to be in anyone's favourite starting eleven. He didn't need to be the most talented player in the squad. He didn't need to leave to fund the Haaland move.

 

[Loverdoodle]

This is probably one City management want back but you have to give Arteta credit for using Zinchenko and backing him more than City would in his role on team. But City generally are doing great in acquisitions and if you are funding buys for Haaland and Alvarez you can’t keep everyone and you got to sell players market wants. But it is odd that Arsenal were beneficiaries of both sales.

As a Arse backer thanks, take it easy on the club you guys haven’t made too many bad buys lately and can’t win every trophy. You need to have someone step up so this isn’t a glorified Ligue 1.

 

[kaz7]

He's really started loving the camera since going there.
A decent player for us but looks like he could end up getting a little too big for his boots if he's not careful darn sarf

Really ? Not like him